_-_copia_-_copia.jpg?w=800&resize=800,500&ssl=1 "Xiomara Castro")
Amid a surge in online identity theft, the Honduran media outlet La Prensa has alerted the public about a counterfeit article that promotes the platform “Tierra Invest.” Falsely linked to this reputable source, the article alleges that many Hondurans are making money through investments in this platform. Nevertheless, it is a scam aimed at extracting users’ personal information.
Digital impersonation for fraudulent purposes
The article, which has gained considerable attention on social media platforms, includes altered material pretending to be an authentic piece from La Prensa. The headline reads “Thousands of Hondurans are now making money by investing in Tierra Invest” and features a supposed statement from President Xiomara Castro, who is claimed to have endorsed the platform as a move towards a more sustainable future. Nonetheless, there is no verification for this assertion, and the media outlet’s officials have refuted any link to the article.
The fraudulent website, designed to mimic La Prensa’s domain, uses a fake web address (hnfinan.com) instead of the official domain laprensa.hn. Using the WHOIS search tool, it has been confirmed that this domain was registered in April 2025, long after the original site was created in 2000. This visual forgery, coupled with links to forms requesting personal and banking information, reveals its objective: data theft.
Alteration of multimedia content and fabrication of testimonials
The deception extends beyond a written piece and involves a doctored video that depicts President Xiomara Castro promoting the introduction of “Tierra Invest,” associating the initiative with renewable energy. The video, however, exhibits clear discrepancies, such as a lack of synchronization between the speaker’s mouth movements and the sound. Hable Como Habla (HCH) conducted an analysis that verified the video had been altered and is not a part of any genuine transmission.
Throughout the fraudulent post, false testimonials from alleged users claiming to have made substantial profits are included, a common tactic in this type of fraud designed to build trust in victims and encourage them to share their personal data.
Alert regarding the rise of online scams
El fenómeno de la suplantación digital con fines fraudulentos no es novedoso en Honduras. En numerosas ocasiones, se han registrado casos similares donde se utilizan nombres de personalidades públicas y la apariencia de medios reconocidos para engañar a los usuarios. La advertencia sobre la página “Tierra Invest” se suma a una serie de estafas documentadas por EL HERALDO Verifica desde principios de 2025.
Businessman Fredy Nasser, whose image was used in this fraudulent campaign, also spoke out publicly in January 2025, denying any connection with the platform and warning about the deceptive practices associated with it.
Recommendations to avoid falling victim to digital fraud
The incident involving La Prensa’s impersonation underscores an increasing issue of online scams in Honduras, impacting both people and organizations. Individuals must stay vigilant to the misleading methods used by these scam sites, which exploit media outlets and public figures to seem trustworthy. Considering these dangers, it is crucial to confirm the authenticity of information, refrain from posting confidential data on unverified websites, and exercise high caution while navigating the web.